Sign or display device for upwardly acting doors



July 14, 1953 w. B. ROSENBAUM SIGN OR DISPLAY DEVICE FOR UPWARDLY ACTING DOORS Filed May 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. %////4/22 i/faiz/rid w (l a E M? y 1953 w. a. ROSENBAUM 2,645,039

SIGN OR DISPLAY DEVICE FOR UPWARDLY ACTING DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

July 14, 1953 w. B. ROSENBAUM 2,645,039

SIGN OR DISPLAY DEVICE FOR UPWARDLY AGTING DOORS Filed May 14, 1951 s S'het-Sheet 3 j I H/ ll II i INVENTOR.

Patented July 14, 1953 SIGN OR DISPLAY DEVICE FOR UPWARDLY ACTING DOORS William B. Rosenbaum, Hartford City, Ind., as-

signor to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City, Ind.

Application May 14, 1951, Serial No. 226,167

This invention relates to a mechanical sign or display device for upwardly acting doors.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a mechanical Sign or display device adapted as a window display or the like which is attractive and at the same time illustrates the action of an upwardly acting sectional door.

Second, to provide a display device of this char acter which constitutes a unit complete in itself and only requires connection of the electric motor to a suitable source of supply for operation.

Third, to provide a mechanical sign or display device having these advantages which is economical to produce and at the same time attracts and entertains the observer,

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical sign or display device embodying my invention with the door unit in partially open position, parts being conventionalized for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section and partially broken away with the door unit in closed position. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on a line corresponding to the broken line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of one of the coupling brackets or members for the door unit to one of the driving chains.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a pair of base members l which, if desired, may be secured to a platform or other support although the structure is stable when used as a window display. The structure comprises a housing designated generally by the numeral 2 consisting of end members 3 desirably formed of sheet metal and having flange-like side wall portions 4 on their vertical edges, the inner edges of which are spaced to provide window openings and to receive the window frames or casings 5. These, as illustrated, areformed of angle iron members 6 and 7 receiving the channel 12 Claims. (CI. 35-49) 2 shaped gasket 8 embracing the edges of the glazing panels 9. The embodiment illustrated has a window on each side thereof. The bottom It is mounted on the end and side members.

The top I I is of general arched shape and provides a chamber 2 for housing the motor 13 and certain of the operating parts, as Will be described, and also forms a housing for a part of the panels constituting the door unit when the door unit is in any of its positions of adjustment.

The door unit comprises a plurality of panels l4, l5 and 16, the panel i4 being at one end of the 'door unit and. the panel it being a glazed panel. This door unit simulates an upwardly acting door of the panel or sectional type. The panels are hingedly connected by the hinge members H and 18 secured to the inner sides of the panels and connected by pintles iii, the pintles I being provided withtrack engaging rollers 20. These rollers are adapted to travel in the channels of the tracks 2!. The tracks 2| are of inverted U-shape, their lower ends extending below the bottom Ill as is shown in Fig. 3.

The panel i4 is provided with a bracket 22 carrying the rod 23 which extends horizontally on the inner side of the end panel M. The panel l5 at the outer end of the door unit is provided with a fixture 24 corresponding to the hinge members i8 and provided with a roller carrying spindle 25.

The housing is provided with a central vertical longitudinal partition designated generally by the numeral 25 and comprising panels 2'! which are adapted to receive indicia or advertising sheets indicated at 28, a portion of an automobile being indicated at 29 in Fig. 2. The panels 2'? are spaced to receive the diagonal braces 33 between them,

these braces being secured to angle iron uprights 3| on the inner sides of the end walls.

A framework 32 is provided at the tops of the windows to support the motor 13 and other operative parts. A shaft 33 is mounted in suitable bearing members 34 and is connected to the motor by means of the sprockets 35 and 3G and the chain 31. The shaft 33 is provided with sprockets 38 at its ends, only one being illustrated. Idler sprockets 39 are adjustably mounted on supports 4|! provided with vertical slots M, the spindles 42 of the idler sprockets being disposed through the slots and adjustably secured therein by the nuts 43. Sprocket chains 44 are trained over the sprockets 38 on the driving'sh'aft 33 and the idler sprockets and are driven continuously in one direction.

One link of each sprocket chain 44 is provided 3 with a coupling member or lug 45 having a roller 51G thereon which engages the slot 41 in the arm 68 of the coupling bracket or fixture 49 secured to the section. or panel M of the door unit. This connection permits the driving chains to travel continuously in one direction and the lugs or coupling members G5 to pass around the sprockets 38 and 39. To maintain the fixture or coupling members 43 in upright position, they are provided with depending arms 50 having rollers 5| thereon which travel in the track and are projected below the bottom indicated in Fig. 3 when the driving connections for the door unit to the chains are at the bottoms of their strokes or with the door unit in completely closed position relative to one window.

The door unit, as stated, is formed with a plurality of sections exceeding the number of sections or panels viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative to the window as is clearly shown in iFg. 3. The excess panels are stored or housed in the top portion of the housing so that when the door unit is in fully closed position in relation to one window, it is in fully open relation to the other window as is shown in Fig. 3, and when the door unit is moving from open to closed position its relation to the windows is reversed, that is, when the door is moving from closed to open position in relation to one window it is moving from open to closed position in relation to the other window. The door unit of the sections and track arranged as described is in a large measure self-counterbalancing so that no additional counterbalancing is required.

The downwardly facing lamp housings or shades 52 are provided for lamps indicated at 53, these being arranged at the tops of the windows so that the illumination is directed downwardly upon and through the window glazing or panels 9. I have not described certain details of the housing structure as the design thereof may be considerably varied.

I have illustrated and described a practical commercial embodiment of my invention. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a display device, the combination of a housing comprising a bottom, side and end walls, and an arched top, the side walls having windows therein extending from the bottom to the top thereof, inverted U-shaped track members of channel section disposed in said housing at the sides of the windows and with their lower ends extending below the bottom, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels provided with rollers ooacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed within the top when the door is in closed position relative to one window, a motor disposed within said housing above the plane of the tops of the windows, a driving shaft connected to said motor and provided with driving sprockets adja cent the ends thereof, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing in vertical alignment with said driving sprockets, drivin chams trained over said aligned driving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to one end panel of said door and having inwardly projecting slotted arms, said driving chains having rollers ooacting with said slotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window, said brackets having depending arms provided with track engaging rollers.

2. In a display device, the combination of a housing comprising a bottom, side and end walls, and a top, the side walls having windows therein, inverted U-shaped track members of channel section disposed in said housing at the sides of the windows and with their lower ends extending below the bottom, an upwardly acting door si1nu- 'lating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels provided with rollers ooacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being housed above the windows when the door is in closed position relative to one window, a motor disposed within said housing above the plane of the tops of the windows, a driving shaft connected to said motor and provided with driving sprockets adjacent the ends thereof, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing in vertical alignment with said driving sprockets, driving chains trained over said aligneddriving and idler sprockets and coupling brackets connected to one end panel of said door and having inwardly projecting slotted arms, said driving chains having rollers ooacting with said slotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chainsin one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window, said brackets having depending arms provided with track engaging rollers.

3. In a display device, the combination of a housing comprising a bottom, side and end walls, and a top, theside walls having windows therein, a central vertical longitudinal partition, inverted U-shaped track members of channel section disposed in said housing at the sides of the windows and with their lower ends extending below the bottom,an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels provided with rollers coacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being housed above the windows when the door is in closed position relative to one window, a motor disposed within said housing above the plane of the tops of the windows, a driving shaft connected to said motor and provided with driving sprockets adjacent the ends thereof, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing in vertical alignment with said driving sprockets, driving chains trained over said aligned driving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to one end panel of said door and having inwardly projecting slotted arms, said driving chains having rollers ooacting with said slotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window, said brackets having depending arms provided with track'engaging rollers.

4. In a display device, the combination of a housing comprising side and end walls, and a top, the side walls having windows therein, a central vertical longitudinal partition, inverted U-shaped track members of channel section disposed in said housing at the sides of the windows, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels provided with rollers coacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being housed above the windows when the, door is in closed position relative to one window, a motor disposed within said housing above the plane of the tops of the windows, a driving shaft connected to said motor and provided with driving sprockets adjacent the ends thereof, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of thehousing in vertical alignment with said driving sprockets, driving chains trained over said aligneddriving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to one panel of saiddoor and having inwardly projecting slotted arms, said driving chains having rollers coacting with saidslotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window, said brackets having track engaging rollers.

5. In a display device, the combination of a housing having windows in the sides thereof, a vertical partition between the windows, inverted U-shaped track members disposed in said housing, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels having attached rollers guided by said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed positioned relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed within the upper part of the housing when the door is in closed position relative to one window, a driving shaft mounted at the top of the housing and provided with driving sprockets, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing, driving chains trained over said driving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to a panel of said door and having inwardly projecting slotted. arms, said driving chains having parts coasting with said slotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window.

6. In a display device, the combination of a housing having windows in the sides thereof, inverted U-shaped track members disposed in said housing, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels having attached rollers guided by said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed within upper part of the housing when the door is in closed position relative to one window, a driving shaft mounted at the top of the housing and provided with driving sprockets, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing, driving chains trained over said driving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to a panel of said door and having inwardly projecting slotted arms, said driving chains having parts coasting with said slotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window.

7. In a display device, the combination of a housing having windows in the sides thereof, inverted U-shaped track members disposed in said 6 housing, an upwardly actin'gdoor simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels having guide elements guided by said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed within the upper part of the housing when the door is in closed position relative to one window, a driving shaft mounted at the top of the housing and provided with driving sprockets, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing, driving chains trained over said driving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to a panel of said door and having inwardly projecting slotted arms. said driving chains having parts coacting with said slotted arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one directionalternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window, said brackets having arms provided with track engaging rollers.

8. In 'a display device, the combination of a housing having a window in opposite sides thereof, track members disposed in said housing and having portions extending above the window, an upwardlyacting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels provided with guide members coacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through the window when the door is:in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed above the window when the door is in closed position relative to the window, a driving shaft provided with 7 driving sprockets adjacent the ends thereof, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing in vertical alignment with said driving sprockets, a driving chain trained over said aligned driving and idler sprockets, and coupling brackets connected to one of the panels of said door and having inwardly projecting arms, said driving chain having a coupling member coacting with said arms whereby continuous movement of the driving chains in one direction alternately opens and closes the door unit as viewed from either window, said brackets having arms disposed angularly relative to said slotted arms and provided with track engaging rollers.

9. In a display device, the combination of a housing having a window in opposite sides thereof, track members disposed in said housing and having portions extending above the window, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels providedwith guide members coacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through the window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed above the window when the door is in closed position relative to the window, a driving shaft provided with driving sprockets adjacent the ends thereof, idler sprockets disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing in vertical alignment with said driving sprockets, and a driving chain trained over said aligned driving and idler sprockets, one of the panels having arms projecting therefrom, said driving chain having a coupling member oovertical partition between the windows, inverted U-shaped track members disposed in said hous- I ing, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels having guide elements guided by said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed within the upper part of the housing when the door is in closed position relative to one window, and means for reciprocating said door unit along said track members to alternately close said door unit behind said windows comprising a driving sprocket, an idler sprocket, and a driving chain trained over said driving and idler sprockets and operatively connected to one of the panels.

11. In a display device, the combination of a housing having windows in the sides thereof, a vertical partition between the windows, inverted U-shaped track members disposed in said housing, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels guided by said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through a window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being concealingly housed within the upper part of the housing when the door is in closed position relative to one window, and means for reciprocating said door simulating'unit along said track members to alternately close said door unit behind said windows.

12. In a display device, the combination of a housing having a window therein, track members disposed in said housing and having portions extending above the window, an upwardly acting door simulating unit comprising a plurality of horizontally articulated panels provided with guides coacting with said tracks, the number of panels exceeding the number viewable through the window when the door is in closed position relative thereto, the excess panels being housed above the window when the door is in closed position relative to the window, and means for reciprocating said door unit along said trackmembers to alternately close said door unit behind said windows comprising a driving sprocket disposed at the top of the housing, an idler sprocket disposed adjacent the bottom of the housing, and a driving chain trained over said sprockets and connected to one of the panels.

WILLIAM B. ROSENBAUM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 471,138 Peterson Mar. 2 1892 1,013,015 Herman Dec. 26, 1911 1,269,414 Fitterling June 11, 1918 1,981,923 Miller Nov. 27, 1934 2,072,514 Daniell Mar. 2, 1937 2,084,733 Kahlifi June 2 1937 2,570,643 Childers Oct. 9, 1951 

